Table



July 14, 1936.

TABLE Original Filed Sept. 14, 1933 @Lf--,.J Arrofiwfy A. 1 lsmcLAlR 2,047,389

Patented July 14, 1936 PATENT oEFicE TABLE Albert L. Sinclair, Hinsdale, Ill., asslgnor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application September 14, 1933, Serial No. 689,364. Divided and this application April 10, 1935, Serial No. 15,527

3 Claims.

This invention relates to tables, and more particularly to tables having folding legs, and is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 689,364, led September 14, 1933.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable and generally improved table construction.

One form of table construction embodying the features of the invention is particularly applicable to a card table having folding legs and comprises a four piece angle steel inner frame having the adjacent ends of the frame pieces spaced and united at each corner of the table by a leg supporting bracket spanning the spaced frame pieces and welded thereto to simultaneously unite the frame pieces and to secure the brackets thereon. The brackets are positioned relative to each other so that they may support pivotal legs thereon in non-interfering relation, each of the legs being foldable against the underside of a table top and retained tbereat or in an erected position when the table is in use by a spring pressed latchlng device carried by the leg and movable into recesses formed in its supporting bracket when the leg is moved from one position to the other.

The invention will be more clearly understood by referring to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of table construction embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the table with the legs folded;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 showing the leg latched in a table supporting position.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the numeral ID indicates a square inner supporting table frame, comprising four similar right angle steel pieces I I having their adjacent ends beveled and spaced from each other at the corners of the table. The pieces I I are united to each other to form the frame I0 by four leg supporting brackets I2 welded thereto, as indicated at I3 (Fig. 2), the brackets spanning the spaced ends of the pieces and in position to support pivotal legs I4 thereon in non-interfering relation, the legs being foldable against the underside of a table top l 5. Surrounding and abutting the inner frame I0 is a square router frame'or apron I1 comprising four similar right angle sheet steel pieces I8 united to each other attheir adjacent ends or corners of the table as by welding. The upper portion of the outer frame I'I is curved inwardly and downwardly, as indicated at (Fig. 3), to form a rounded corner extending around the table. A baked enamel coating (not indicated) is provided on the outer surface of the frame I 1 for appearance and to give a' smooth finish. Between the horizontal arms of the angle pieces Il and I8 comprising the inner and outer frames IU and I'I is the table top I5 10 comprising a sheet of ply board 2 I or other suitable sheet material having a padding 22 laid on its upper surface and covered with cloth, leather or other suitable material 23 (Fig. 2), which ex tends over the edges oi the board 2l and is tacked l5 mium plated binding and ornamentation vstrips 29 which extend around the outer frame I'I. lIn the uniting of the frames l0 and I'I, in the manner described, the table top I5 is positioned between the frames whichmay be moved relatively to each other to clamp the top therebetween and while under variable clamping pressure the screws 2i, already in position, but loose, are tightened. 1t will be apparent that by providing the vertical slots 25 in the inner frame I 0 the referred to movement of the frames I0 and Il' may be effected with the screws in position. -The same result may be obtained by making the slots 25 or the openings in the outer frame somewhat oversize, `that is, in the form of oversize circular openings rather than definitely in the form of slots and openings. Also, if desired, the ornamental strips 29 may be omitted and the inner and outer frames united by any desired fastening means.

Since each of the leg supporting brackets I2 and the means for pivoting the legs I4 thereon, together with the means for latching the legs in either an open or closed position are all identical, the following description will apply to each. 'I'he construction of the legs I4 will not be described herein in detail, since the same is fully illustrated and described in a copending application of K. A.

Weston, Serial No. 689,363, filed September 14,

i933,andisnotesssntialtoacomplstsundsr l 33 toward the bracket I2 at the opposite corner of the frame I0. The leg I4 which is of tube construction has tightly fitted in its upperend, when the table is in a table supporting position (Fig. l). or in its left end, as viewed in Fig. 2, with .the leg in a folded position, a casting 3l. A screw 31 for pivoting the leg I4 on the bracket I2 freely extends through alined openings in the bracket arm Il, the rear a`nd front walls of the leg I4 and the fitted casting 3l and is threaded into the bracket arm 3|.

For retaining or latching the leg I4 either in an erected position to support the table as shown in Fig. 1, or in a folded position, wherein it lies against the underside of the table top Il. the latter position of the leg being illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, there is provided a spring pressed plunger or latch member Il, which slides in alined openings formed in the casting It, fitted in the leg I4, and the rear wall of the leg. As clearly shown in Fig. 2 the bracket arm 30 is spaced from the rear wall of the leg I4 and a sleeve 33 isfrecly interposed between the opposed surfaces of the bracket arm 3l and the leg, the inner diameter of the sleeve being such that a round head 40 of the plunger 33 may freely slide therein. A compression spring 43 surrounds the plunger 38 with opposite ends of the spring engaging the rear wall of the leg I4 and an annular surface on the plunger head 40. the spring constantly urging the plunger toward the bracket arm 30'.

Formed in the bracket arm 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, are two circular openings or recesses 44 and 45 into one or the other of which the plunger head 4II moves when the leg I4 is rocked about its pivot 31 from one position tothe other. The plunger head 40 is formed with an inwardly tapered peripheral surface 48 beginning at its inner end which terminates in a rounded surface 41 at the outer end of the head. In the folded position of the leg I4 (Figs. 2 and 3) the rounded end surface 41 of the plunger head 40 alone is seated inthe opening 4l, due to the latters partisular diameter. and while this is sumcient to prevent the leg from being moved accidentally from its folded position, it does not provide such a retaining effect on the plunger 38 that it will not readily yield and slide out of the opening 4l upon a lateral movement of the plunger head 40 when the leg is grasped at its free end and rocked to its table supporting position (Figs. 1 and 4). In the latter position of the leg I4 the surface 46 of the plunger head 4I is seated in the opening 44 which has a slightly greater diameter than the opening 4l and therefore the rounded outer end surface 41 of the plunger head 40 will project slightly further into the opening. 'Ihe inwardly tapered peripheral surface 43 of the plunger head 33 coacting with the opening 44 provides a positive retaining eii'ect on the plunger 38, the action being such that a lateral movement of the head 40 will not cause the head to yield and slide out of the opening, This prevents the leg I4 from being accidentally unlatched 4when the table is being used.

To fold the leg I4 toits closed position, shown accuse inFigs.2and3,itisnrstnecessarytopress inwardly on the rounded outer end surface 41 ofplungcr head 4l (Fig. 4) which is accessible through the opening 44 of the bracket arm 30, after which the leg may be freely rocked about s its pivot 31. The sleeve 33 surrounding the spring 43 and the plunger 3l and abutting at opposite ends the inside surface of the bracket arm 4l and the adjacent wall of the leg I4 serves to hold the leg snugly between the bracket arms Il and 3| and thereby prevents any lateral movement thereof tending to strain its pivot connection 31, with the bracket I2 and also firmly holds the leg when in its table supporting position at right angles to the plane of the table top.

The described construction provides a very rigid and practical table construction with folding latchable legs which is light in weight, economical to manufacture, and has a neat and pleasing appearance. 1

Although the invention as herein illustrated and described is particularly well adapted tc card tables, it is to be understood that the novel features thereof are capable of many other applications and that modifications may be made 25 without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a table having folded legs and depending peripheral side members, a member fixed to the 30 table side members having parallel vertical portions, means for pivotally connecting a table leg between the parallel member portions adjacent the upper ends thereof with one side of the leg spaced from one of the member portions which 35 is extended below the side members, a latch member carried by the leg, movable relative thereto and extending therefrom across the mentioned space with its outer end engageable in a latch opening formed below the side members in the .adjacent member portion when the leg is in a table supporting position, means operatively associated with said latch member within the mentioned space i'or normally holding the latch member in engagement with the latch opening, and means for maintaining the leg in a fixed spaced relation from one of the member portions in all positions of the leg.

2. In a. table having folding legs and depending peripheral side members, a member fixed to the table side members and having parallel portions. means for pivotally connecting a table leg between the parallel portions of said member adjacent the upper ends thereof, the leg at one side abutting the inner surface of one of the parallel member portions and at its opposite side spaced from the inner surface of the other parallel member portion which is extended below the table side members, a plunger type latch member carried by the leg and extending therefrom across so the mentioned space with its outer end engageable in a latch opening formedv below the side members in the adjacent member portion when the leg is in a table supporting position, a spring operatively associated with said latch member g5 within the mentioned space for normally holding the latch member in engagement with the latch opening, and means for maintaining the leg in a iixed spaced relation from the member portion in all positions-of the leg. 70

3. In a table, a table top having depending peripheral side members, a U-shaped member having one portion connected to one side member and another portion connected to` another adjacent side member, a leg pivotally connected 7s to said U-shapedmember adjacent its upper end between parallel portions thereof, a latch member carried by the leg and having a rounded outer head surface, one parallel portion of said U- shaped member extending below the side mem-y bers and having e, latch opening therein below the side members so that the head of the latch member will engage in the opening when the leg is in a table supporting position, said opening being readily accessible for applying pressure by a thumb or finger to release the latch, and means for normally holding said latch' member in engagement with the latch opening.

ALBERT L. SINCLAIR. 

